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Former GM CEO Stempel
On the Future of Electric Cars

Almost 20 Years After He Approved the EV1
The Same Major Snag Remains: Batteries

By

Joseph B. White

Updated July 21, 2008 11:59 p.m. ET

One of the Big Ideas that's gotten a boost from the recent oil price shock is the notion that the energy for transportation should come from the electric grid, not an oil well in the Middle East.

A number of big, established car makers have announced plans to produce cars that will pull from the electric grid all or part of the energy needed to make them go. They join a flock of upstart companies, such as Tesla Motors, trying to...

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